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‘No, don’t rush. I’ll leave you to it,’ he says, standing.
‘You don’t have to go yet,’ I blurt out, surprising myself, and clearly Taylor too from the way his eyes widen. But his presence here comforts me, makes me feel a little safer somehow.
He shrugs. ‘Maybe just for a bit, then.’ He crouches down so he’s level with Poppy and holds out his hand. ‘It was nice to meet you. Goodnight, young lady.’
To my surprise, Poppy takes his hand and giggles. ‘I’m not alady,’ she says. ‘I’m a girl!’
It takes a while for Poppy to fall asleep, and I begin to regret asking Taylor to stay. I’m wasting his time. Eventually, though, she succumbs, and I turn off the lamp and slip out of the room.
The doorbell rings as I’m shutting her door, and Taylor rushes out of the kitchen. ‘Are you expecting anyone?’
That’s when I remember I’d told Sarah she could come over tonight. I’ve been so distracted that it slipped my mind. ‘I’m so sorry – I told my friend she could come round. I hope that’s okay?’
‘No problem. I want you to treat this place like your own. Within reason, of course. I do quite like the ornaments my mum forced me to put up.’
I check through the peephole to make sure it’s Sarah. She’s reaching forward to press the bell again when I pull open the door.
‘Hey,’ she says, holding up a bottle of Prosecco. ‘I thought we could both do with this. This week’s just been?—’
Her face falls when she notices Taylor standing behind me. ‘Oh, sorry.’
‘I was just leaving,’ Taylor says, grabbing his coat. He holds out his hand. ‘I’m Taylor. This is my flat usually. But happy to hand it over temporarily to Hannah. She’s actually been keeping it a lot tidier than I do.’
Sarah shakes his hand, but her body seems to stiffen, and her lips are pursed. I don’t know what she’s thinking, but it won’t be anywhere close to the truth so I need to set her straight. At least, as much as I can. ‘She knows she’s always welcome at mine if anything changes,’ she says.
Taylor smiles. ‘She’s lucky to have a friend like you.’ He points to the bottle. ‘Wine glasses are in the cupboard above the sink.’
Sarah doesn’t reply, but steps inside and gives me a hug. She waits for Taylor to leave before speaking. ‘Who exactly is he? I don’t think Max would like this. I know you said you met him at work, but how well do you know him? I’ve never heard you mention anyone called Taylor before.’
I wish I could erase the suspicion in her eyes, but she’s right to be mistrustful. After all, I am lying about so much. ‘He works for a publishing company. He’s one of the sales reps.’
Her face softens. ‘Oh. But you could have stayed with me.’
‘I know. And I really do appreciate that.’ I reach for the bottle. ‘Come on, let’s get this open.’
In the living room, we sit cradling our glasses, as comfortable as two people can be in the home of a stranger.
‘So you haven’t changed your mind then?’ she asks. ‘About Max?’
I shake my head, lifting my glass but suddenly not wanting to drink.
‘Has he done something? This just seems so out of the blue. I feel like you’re not telling me the whole story. We always talk about everything, don’t we?’
‘Like I said, I’ve been feeling this way for months. I’m sorry I didn’t talk to you about it. You were going through your own stuff. Working so much. Worrying about money. Dean. How did that go last night?’
Her cheeks flush. ‘Clearly I still have feelings for him. When I’m around him, I just…I don’t know. Want him, I suppose.’
‘I could have told you that’s how you’d feel.’ I pause. ‘Does he feel the same?’
‘I don’t know yet. I’m just trying to suss him out.’ She takes a sip of Prosecco. ‘This isn’t about me, though. It’s about Ivy, and what’s best for her. Dean doesn’t have to wantme, I just hope he wants his daughter in his life.’ She looks at me. ‘Anyway, how areyoudoing?’
‘Not great. But I’ll get through this.’ I look at her. ‘So will Max.’
‘That guy. Taylor. He likes you – I can tell.’
Her comment takes me by surprise, and I feel my cheeks warm. ‘No, he doesn’t.’
‘I’m not blind, Han. I saw the way he looked at you. Don’t tell me you haven’t noticed. Did you leave Max because of him? You can tell me. What do we always say?’
